If this ever happens, it will be a while. The iPhone is a GSM device and is not currently compatible with the technology that VZ uses, which is CDMA. Before this could happen, the AT&T exclusive agreement needs to expire and Apple needs to produce a CDMA iPhone.

If this ever happens, it will be a while. The iPhone is a GSM device and is not currently compatible with the technology that VZ uses, which is CDMA. Before this could happen, the AT&T exclusive agreement needs to expire and Apple needs to produce a CDMA iPhone.

Hoping Steve lives a long and fruitful life (at least long he already has the fruit)

I wish he would just retire and live a long and relaxing life.

Apple needs new leadership, someone that listens to the customer instead of releasing a 3000 dollar lap top in the depths of a depression, while ignoring customer demands for serious bug fixes and refusing to add basic features that every other GSM phone has.

Steve "Just Say NO" is becoming an albatross around Apple's neck, but the fanboys can't see this as they are too busy fawning over every word he utters and lapping up the cool-aid.

Yeah, I have an iPhone, its the first and absolute LAST apple product I will ever buy.

I think what you're forgetting or maybe just don't know is that VZW was originally offered the iPhone first. VZW in their infinite wisdom did not like Jobs' contractual terms and declined. Therefore, we have the iPhone on ATT, whom will probably not give up their exclusive agreement anytime soon. Also while CDMA maybe better in some ways than GSM it's only heavily used here in the U.S. The rest of the world uses GSM. Leave it to the U.S. to create a competing standard that only they use and is not going to last.

Originally Posted by icebike

I wish he would just retire and live a long and relaxing life.

Apple needs new leadership, someone that listens to the customer instead of releasing a 3000 dollar lap top in the depths of a depression, while ignoring customer demands for serious bug fixes and refusing to add basic features that every other GSM phone has.

Steve "Just Say NO" is becoming an albatross around Apple's neck, but the fanboys can't see this as they are too busy fawning over every word he utters and lapping up the cool-aid.

Yeah, I have an iPhone, its the first and absolute LAST apple product I will ever buy.

As far as leadership goes don't think for a second that a different CEO will even attempt to dilute Apple's high-end product line by offering them for below a $3000.00 price point. Oh wait they are $2799.00 so you can get a laptop below $3000.00.

Don't forget that every other laptop maker out there also has $2799.00+ laptops. So if your gonna pick on one pick on them all. I'm just sayin'...

Don't forget that Verizon offers only ~90 million potential customers for the iPhone while this may seem like a lot it pales in comparison to the market for GSM. The rest of the world uses GSM (except for Mexico and other small areas that are developing). Apple is selling the iPhone in 30+ countries on GSM networks, their potential customer base is a few billion on GSM networks.

Apple is also still new at the cell phone game, and so unlikely to want to develop 2 versions, especially one that can only be sold to one or 2 markets. It is likely they will wait until Verizon has deployed their 4G network based on LTE (the same thing AT&T will be using).

Your looking at roughly 5 to 10+ years away. Not to mention we don't know if it will be entirely "universal" upon implementation even though it is designed to be. A prime example would be VZN maintaining their CDMA network, using GSM for data only and AT&T doing the exact opposite. It would be nice if that doesn't happen but I'm not holding my breath on it.

No offense to anyone but I am not a fan of Verizon. I tried the service here in Chicago with a Storm and the service was pretty poor. I know that won't be the case for everyone. AT&T just give me better service, in my area.

When I lived in Chicago I had bot ATT and VZW. Verizon was always better reception for me. Now that I have my iPhone whenever I travel to Chicago I hit a lot of dead zones while most of my colleagues on verizon still and have no issues. That's just my experience. Fortunately there is a lot of wifi so it really only affects voice.

Fortunately ATT is pretty much the best coverage down here in Cincinnati where I live!

When I lived in Chicago I had bot ATT and VZW. Verizon was always better reception for me. Now that I have my iPhone whenever I travel to Chicago I hit a lot of dead zones while most of my colleagues on verizon still and have no issues. That's just my experience. Fortunately there is a lot of wifi so it really only affects voice.

Fortunately ATT is pretty much the best coverage down here in Cincinnati where I live!

- mark

Honestly, all over Chicago is great. I never lose a signal or 3G. I live in the southwest burbs but spend a lot of time in the city. While at home I'd get one or two bars at most with Verizon, with AT&T I get full bars. That's most important to me. Can't complain.

@mahomer - and how long ago was it you lived there? I felt the same about ATT here in Austin TX, but in the past year service has really improved. I dropped them years ago for Sprint b/c the service was so bad. I tried a Storm out also and VZW was no better or even a little worse than my Sprint coverage. And gosh, now that they will have 81M people on their network......

@bubbatex - Since I moved away 4 yrs ago, I have been there twice a month for work until this year.

Maybe I am just sensitive to it since I have been trying to talk a colleague into getting an iPhone and dumping his treo (vzw). But it always happens that I drop a call or can't get a signal in an internal (no window) conference room and he has a full signal. So the three of four times that it happens I am probably wincing a little more from it :-)

Bad Ash lives and works there every day so I will take his word that it has gotten a lot better.

I have avoided ATT for years because of the service, but now that I am getting serious about an iPhone, I am telling myself that the service will be fine! Funny what you can talk yourself into! However, I do know that Austin is blanketed pretty well with 3g, so I ought to be OK. Now that they are well behind VZW in subscribers, I am sure they will continue to build out the service ASAP.

@bubbatex - I have been on VZW, AT&T, Sprint, etc. I have been happiest with AT&T and VZW. I have no major complaints about AT&T, in fact the local retail store here in Cincinnati (Westchester technically) is great. Everyone there has been very helpful explaining plans, setting up phones, etc. I know that TMobile and VZW get a lot of press on the great customer service, but since I have had my iPhone I cannot complain about the cust. service I have gotten from ATT. Of course we would like cheaper and better plans but I feel I get a lot of value out of my phone for the $$s I pay.

I can't exactly tell from your post. Do you have an iPhone now or are you thinking of getting one?

Window shopping right now. I have a Q9c on Sprint and find that I really want a bigger display - and the current WM HTC devices do not offer a bigger screen. I honestly never gave the iPhone that much thought (primarily because I needed a physical keyboard and my concerns about ATT service - OK and price to get out of my Sprint contract AND the cheap plan I have!). I tried a Storm out for a few weeks last month and really liked it except for one thing, the actual phone was not very good. The earpiece was crummy and the outgoing sounded like I had a sock over the phone. Can't have that! My son got an iPod Touch for Christmas, so I now have had the chance to play with the functionality and I could get used to it. I went to an ATT store and called my voicemail with one was was honestly shocked at the clarity - it was as good as my Q9c which I believe to be one of the best "phones" in the "smartphone" category (have also tried Treo's and other WM devices at Sprint).

So, even though it will cost me more a month to move to ATT, I am seriously thinking about the iPhone. Thanks for your additional input on ATT service.

@bubbatex - I have been on VZW, AT&T, Sprint, etc. I have been happiest with AT&T and VZW. I have no major complaints about AT&T, in fact the local retail store here in Cincinnati (Westchester technically) is great. Everyone there has been very helpful explaining plans, setting up phones, etc. I know that TMobile and VZW get a lot of press on the great customer service, but since I have had my iPhone I cannot complain about the cust. service I have gotten from ATT. Of course we would like cheaper and better plans but I feel I get a lot of value out of my phone for the $$s I pay.

Dude I wish I could say the same for ATT's cust. service in southern California. If they had good customer service here and a better signal I'd drop vzw and get an iPhone right now.

Yeah, I may just be lucky with great 3g coverage, a nearby apple store and a store where the AT&T staff are extremely helpful.

I do love my iPhone though. I have had a trek and bberry in the past so I thought giving up the keyboard would be hard but within 3 weeks I got used to it and now prefer it do to the benefit of screen real estate.